From Shahbagh to Farmgate, including Banglamotor, Dhaka’s major intersections were paralyzed for hours yesterday as students protested against the government job quota system, sweeping across the capital.
Student-led blockades extended to key points like the Government Science Lab intersection, Chankharpool, areas around Dhaka University, and in front of various educational institutions.
The impact of these blockades led to severe traffic congestion in critical areas, including Tantibazar, Ray Saheb Bazar, Bangshal, Gulistan, Purana Paltan, Shahbagh, Karwan Bazar, Farmgate, Agargaon, Kazipara, Sheorapara, Mirpur-10, New Market, and Science Lab.
By 6:00 pm, the gridlock had spread to Mohakhali, Banani, Uttara, and surrounding areas, with long lines of private cars, buses, and CNG-run auto-rickshaws.
Students also blocked the railway at Karwan Bazar’s level crossing for 30 minutes.
Many inter-district travelers were also affected as protesters obstructed major railways and highways, temporarily cutting off Dhaka from other regions of the country.
Rumana Jannat, a medical technologist, found herself stuck in a gridlock near the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel for over an hour. Frustrated, she eventually left the bus and decided to walk.
College students Rafi Ahmed, Sujan Maiti, and Ishtiaq Hossain were similarly dismayed, having been stuck in the Bijoy Sarani area for over 40 minutes.
Meanwhile, the students protesting against the government job quota system announced they would not hold any blockades today. However, they planned to continue boycotting classes and exams, pressing for the reinstatement of a 2018 order that had abolished quotas.
Nahid Islam, a DU student and one of the movement’s organizers, said, “We will coordinate with students across the country tomorrow (today) to prepare for a stronger protest on Wednesday.”
The ordeal began at 3:30pm when hundreds of students demanding quota reforms started their “Bangla Blockade” programme from Shahbagh.
They even blocked the Farmgate ramp of the Dhaka Elevated Expressway leaving hundreds of vehicles stuck there.
The sufferings intensified after the office closure as many job holders were forced to walk to their destinations. Some bikers were seen quarrelling with the protesters.
The protestors blocked the railway at Karawan Bazar level crossing around 6:40pm, halting train movements, which they withdrew an hour later.
Vehicular movement resumed in Farmgate, Karawan Bazar and Bangla Motor areas around 7:45pm.
The protesters finally lifted the blockade at Shahbagh around 8:35pm, after almost four hours.
It took Pankaj Malakar, a private job holder, two and a half hours to reach Farmgate from Bailey Road on his bike. “I was stuck multiple times and had to take several detours,” he said.
Mushfiq Alam, a private service holder, was seen waiting at Farmgate for public transport. “I have been waiting for 40 minutes but there’s no sign of any transport,” he said.
Source : The Daily Star
